Tennis doubts...?

Question

I have 2 questions about tennis

a) How come players take 3 balls, choose 2, and return one to the ball-boy? Is it, as I think, to be used specifically in case of a fault, or is there a greater purpose?

b) There are line referees for the 3 vertical lines, but does the umpire call the faults for the 4 horizontal ones, or are there more line referees for this.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hi, the reason player take three balls is because they are looking for the ball with the least amount of "fuzz wear" hanging off the ball that might slow it down as flies through the air.  This is the ball they will use for their first serve, because they are usually trying to hit this one as fast as possible.



The second best ball goes in the pocket in case it is needed for a second serve, and the ball with the most "fuzz wear" of the three goes back to the ball boy.  As "Mrs Nadal" said, this typically becomes part of a players pre-serve routine.

There are line judges on the horizontal lines as well as the vertical ones, they just blend in with the crowd more because the walls along the side of the court are always much lower than the walls at the each end of the court for obvious reasons.  Just look a bit closer the next time you see a match on tv, and I bet you can spot em'!

Take care, and you welcome "after the fact"! ;>P

Answer 2

a) Nadal does this as part of his routine...no one knows why but he just likes to stick to a winning routine...other players ask for two balls incase the first ball they serve goes out nd they hav to do a 2nd serve so they hav 1 ready in their pocket.

b) their are line judges that look at both lines... but the umpire can overule...the players can also challenge each desision if the court has hawk eye like at wimbledon.